IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/nat/natcom/v16y2025i1d10.1038_s41467-025-61757-3.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Genotype B3.13 influenza A(H5N1) viruses isolated from dairy cattle demonstrate high virulence in laboratory models, but retain avian virus-like properties

Author

Listed:
  • Thomas P. Fabrizio

    (St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital)

  • Ahmed Kandeil

    (St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital
    National Research Centre)

  • Walter N. Harrington

    (St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital)

  • Jeremy C. Jones

    (St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital)

  • Trushar Jeevan

    (St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital)

  • Konstantin Andreev

    (St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital)

  • Patrick Seiler

    (St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital)

  • Jonathan Fogo

    (St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital
    University of Tennessee Health Science Center)

  • Morgan L. Davis

    (St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital)

  • Jeri Carol Crumpton

    (St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital)

  • John Franks

    (St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital)

  • Jennifer DeBeauchamp

    (St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital)

  • Peter Vogel

    (St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital)

  • C. Scanlon Daniels

    (Circle H Headquarters LLC)

  • Rebecca L. Poulson

    (The University of Georgia)

  • Andrew S. Bowman

    (The Ohio State University)

  • Elena A. Govorkova

    (St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital)

  • Richard J. Webby

    (St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital)

Abstract

In March 2024, clade 2.3.4.4b highly pathogenic avian influenza A(H5N1) viruses were first detected in U.S. dairy cattle. Similar viruses have since caused 70 zoonotic human infections. To assess changes to zoonotic potential, we characterized A(H5N1) clade 2.3.4.4b viruses isolated from cows’ milk and birds. Bovine-derived viruses are lethal in mice and ferrets and transmit to direct but not airborne contact ferrets. All viruses replicate in human bronchial epithelial cells despite preferentially binding avian virus-like receptors. The bovine-derived viruses remain susceptible to FDA-approved antivirals, and they are inhibited by sera from ferrets vaccinated with WHO-recommended candidate vaccine viruses (CVV) or human sera from clade 2.3.4.4c vaccinees. While 2.3.4.4b viruses induce severe disease in mammalian models, they retain many avian virus-like characteristics. Combined, we conclude that the risk of contemporary bovine-derived viruses to humans not in contact with affected animals is low. However, heightened vigilance remains essential to promptly detect and respond to any changes.

Suggested Citation

  • Thomas P. Fabrizio & Ahmed Kandeil & Walter N. Harrington & Jeremy C. Jones & Trushar Jeevan & Konstantin Andreev & Patrick Seiler & Jonathan Fogo & Morgan L. Davis & Jeri Carol Crumpton & John Franks, 2025. "Genotype B3.13 influenza A(H5N1) viruses isolated from dairy cattle demonstrate high virulence in laboratory models, but retain avian virus-like properties," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 16(1), pages 1-12, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:16:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-025-61757-3
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-61757-3
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-025-61757-3
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1038/s41467-025-61757-3?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    More about this item

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:16:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-025-61757-3. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    We have no bibliographic references for this item. You can help adding them by using this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.nature.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.